Current Issues
Open Burning Ban Update
The Michigan House of Representatives passed HB 4207 on the evening of December 15 with 105 Yeas and 1 Nay. The Bill with substitute H-2, amends section 324.11522 of Act 451 to prohibit the open burning of household waste that contains plastic, rubber, foam, chemically treated wood, textiles, electronics, chemicals, or hazardous materials.
HB 4207 was introduced by Representative Kurtz back in February 2011 and the DEQ worked competently with stakeholders to bring forth the substitute that bans the open burning of the materials listed above. This amendment is a good step in the right direction and is endorsed by the Michigan Recycling Coalition. It will be left up to educators and policy-makers to use this opportunity to move these materials from the burn barrel to the recycling bin. Unfortunately, highly recyclable paper products do not make the list. This oversight, however, can be overcome by making recycling easy for these newcomers. The Bill now moves on to the Senate. We’ll keep you apprised of progress.
Governor Snyder signs State Budget, June 21, 2011, that includes language calling for a report addressing implementation of state's solid waste policy.
Sec. 601. (1) The department shall develop a report that addresses implementation of the state’s solid waste policy. At a minimum, the report shall do both of the following:
(a) Identify options for long-term funding for the solid waste management program. For each option, the report shall take into account the extent to which additional activities or materials, or both, such as recycling, composting, and beneficial reuse would impact the long-term funding of the solid waste management program.
(b) Assess the feasibility of contracting out landfill inspections.
(2) The department shall provide the report prepared under subsection (1) to the state budget director, the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on environmental quality, and the house and senate fiscal agencies by June 30, 2012.
Michigan E-Waste Legislation Update
On December 29, 2008, Part 173, Electronics, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, (Part 173) became effective and established a manufacturer electronic device takeback program promoting electronic waste recycling. The manufacturer electronic device takeback program applies to computers and televisions recycled by households and small businesses (those employing 10 employees or fewer). It requires all manufacturers selling new computers and televisions in Michigan to register with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). By April 1, 2010, all retailers, including Internet, catalog, manufacturer direct, and in-state retailers, were required to only sell new computers and televisions manufactured by registered manufacturers.
As of January 19, 2012, Michigan had 19 registered recyclers and 69 registered covered electronic equipment manufacturers. The list of recyclers and manufacturers can be found on the DNRE electronic waste takeback program Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqewaste and clicking on Electronic Waste Takeback Program, then click on Registered Recyclers or Registered Manufacturers.
A list of takeback programs, organized by brand, is also available. Consumers can find the takeback program information for their brand of computer or television by navigating to the electronic waste takeback program Web site, www.michigan.gov/deqewaste and clicking on 2010 Michigan Computer and Television Takeback Program Descriptions by Brand. Consumers may return any television, regardless of brand, to any television takeback program. However, computers manufacturers may choose to only take back their own equipment.
Current activities involving the electronic waste takeback program include: providing guidance to manufacturers whose registrations are administratively incomplete; identifying manufacturers that are registered in other states but are not registered in Michigan and contacting them to verify whether they are required to register; identifying brands that are being sold by retailers to Michigan consumers that are manufactured by manufacturers that are not registered and informing the manufacturers of the requirements of Part 173; informing retailers of their obligation to ensure the covered electronic equipment they are selling is manufactured by a registered manufacturer; and contacting recyclers that may be processing covered electronic equipment to ensure they are aware of their obligations under Part 173.
MRC Conference Presentations:
- Waste to Energy - Christine McCoy, 2010 Conferencce
